My Way or the Tri Way - TriathlonSprint

Thankfully I only had to pull on my quickjohn in T2. A full wetsuit may have really slowed me down. As I left T2, I had the wetsuit up to my waist and needed to get my swimcap and goggles on as I walked to the water. I got the cap and goggles on and then went to work on the upper half of the suit. Not too much of a problem, but I was tired and sweaty to getting the suit snugged up correctly around the neck was a little difficult. I hit the water, waded in and was off. There was a women who I had passed me on the bike that was just a head of me. I came close to catching her, but never quite got to her. Being that she was the only other person remotely close to me, I didn't pass a single person on the swim, but I did get passed by one super swimmer. That person burned by me. As the swim was the last leg of the race for me. the water temp was just fine, but I was beat. I found a pretty good breathing pattern, but didn't trust myself enough and twice reverted to the breastroke. I think I swam pretty straight for the first 600 yds, but coming home I kept veering to the left. But I made it, got to the edge of the water, got the wetsuit off and jog/walked up the hill. As I was going up the hill, I had 7 minutes to beat my time from last year. So I didn't push it that hard as I wasn't feeling great. But I went back through the transition are to the finish line and crossed in 1:56:00. 3 minutes and 43 seconds faster than last year.

I just needed to trust myself that I could complete this swim. I was cruising along really good doing the freestyle, but then would have a short panic, switch to breastroke and then calm down. Maybe being pretty alone in the water wasn't a good thing. Doing this event last is tough as well, but the water felt great.

So I went from run to bike. Easy and quick transition. I already had socks on, I had my bike gloves in my raceshirt as came into T1, and I ate some gel that I had on my run coming into the transition. So I hit my towel, took off my run shoes, threw on my helmet, and bike shoes and was off. I thought this went really well.

Could have taken my race number off, but it didn't bother/hinder me. A really good transition-going from the run to the bike was great.

This course just kills me. I think the combination of hills and wind did me in. On top of the fact that I was on a borrowed bike. I was really hoping to push closer to 18 mph and finish closer to 45 minutes, perhaps the combination of first running, the wind, the heat all did me in. I started out great and just a mile in, someone had flatted. I was a little worried as I now didn't have a spare tube. But I had to make the best of it. I took it easy to start knowing I had a lot of hills to climb, and a wind to deal with on the way back. Right of the gate, I started passing people. Some were people who were ahead of me from the run, while a lot were people who started first with the swimming. I figured that was a good sign as I knew I could swim the 800 yds faster than these people could run the 4 miles. So I should be able to move up the rankings. I kept a solid pace heading, mostly passing people on mountain bikes as I really picked up speed on the downhills, and held them off going up the hills. Last year I would just yo-yo with people, by passing them going down and them passing me on the way up. This year, no such thing. Except for that one woman who passed me just after the turnaround. I kept tri-ing to keep the pace with her, but could never recover enough for a pass - however she never left my sights for the rest of the race. As I came into T2, I was was going to leave my shoes on the bike and run into the T with my socks. Safer than being in my bike shoes. I undid the velcro got on top of my shoes as I neared the T, hopped off the bike and hit the ground running, but my left foot somehow still pulled off the shoe. So I had to stop, back up and grab my shoe as I ran into the T. All in all a good leg, but not my fastest. I'm going to do this same bike (except 2 miles shorter) in 3 months and hopefully I can push the pace to 18mph for the trip. But right now I might be resigned to a 16 mph pace for this race. Its tough course and my times for the last two years were off by only 2 seconds.

Well, I need my own bike and need to train on it. I rode the bike a couple of times during the week, but didn't have the chance to do an extended ride. My bum is a little sore as the saddle is a little different from my old one.

Another good transition. I hit the rack, had my bike on it, helmet off, gloves and sunglasses in the helmet. Took off the race number, shirt, and socks. Jumped into the wetsuit and pulled it up to my waist. Grabbed the goggles and swimcap and was off. As I was running to the sidewalk to the lake. I got a huge rock stuck in my toe. Stopped to take it out and walked to the lake as I got the wetsuit on.

This one I nailed. Though it would have been nice to have a hand getting the wetsuit on.

A PR for a 4 mile run. After running the Bolder Boulder a month ago, I decided to try to find a pair of legs to follow for the run and hopefully push myself to a a sub 10 minute mile pace. I latched on to a runner with a camelbak and kept her in my sights for the entire race. To start the run, its a little more downhill to get to the flat 3 mile portion of the run. I went out strong, but not too fast. It felt slow to me, but I hit the 3/4 mile water station in 7:10 or so. So I was moving along just fine. I think the addition of some speed workouts at the track are paying off in helping me get comfortable going faster. As was my plan, I took a 20 second walk to take in some water. However, I should have maybe skipped the first water station. I had to pee. Good news is that along the course there are some port-o-pottys, but I wasn't sure if I was going to need them or not. I thought the run might take out some of the urge. I hit the second water station. Mile 1.75 and had a small sip of water and took a short break. My heart rate came down a little and I felt good, but the urge was still there. I hit the turnaround and in typical fashion on an out and back course I do a different corner than most. Most people would just hang a 180 and make the turn with their right shoulder on the outside the whole time. I like to go to the cone and turn my body to the right, while my feet move to the left. I just like to have a little fun and give the volunteers at the turn around something different. I haven't tripped myself up yet, but someday I might. Oh well, its fun... By time I hit the 2.5 mile mark and the water station on return. I have to pee. I grab the water, run into the port-o-potty, take care of business and run back out. I know have about 100 yds or so to make up to catch the Camelbak. I pick up the pace, but not too much. Just need to close the distance. I hit the next water stop. Take a quick walk and head into the more uphill section of the run. I so want to stop and take a walk up the hill, but I can't lose sight of that camelbak. I push on and keep going all the way to T1. Just before I hit T1, I grab my gel and drink some water with it as I head into the T. If I didn't need that gel. I think I would have finished in 39:15 or so. A rockin' 4 mile time me. Even so, This is still a PR and after sorting out at the start, I was able to hold off everyone but one person and passed 6 or so people on the run.

honestly, I would have rather had too much water than not enough on a 100 degree day, so even though I had to take a pit stop this was a great run.

Felt like I had to puke, so I laid down, drank a couple of liters of water and stretched a lot. Probably took me 20 plus minutes to not feel so sick.


The heat was a factor, the race order was both good and bad, the bike, and the wind...


This race is a lot of fun, well run, everyone who participated got a pair of Crocs. Plenty of food and drink after the race and its a great venue for specatators as people are constantly coming in and out.